Optimal Strategy

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Choosing the right starter credit cards is important to lay the foundation of your credit history.

As a reminder, always pay off your credit cards in full each month to avoid paying interest. It doesn't make sense to accumulate debt to get "free travel." The idea is to get optimal value from your everyday spend.

If you don't have any credit history, I recommend getting a secured credit card first for at least 6-12 months and then applying for a starter credit card.

A good starter card typically doesn't have an annual fee, and it allows you to accumulate cash back or points with your purchases.

Chase Starter / Foundation Cards

I recommend starting with Chase cards first to build a relationship with them. Chase offers some of the best travel credit cards on the market.

Getting a Chase Freedom, Chase Freedom Unlimited, or the Chase Slate is the optimal strategy because of theChase 5/24 rule.

The 5/24 rule means that Chase will automatically reject you for some of their credit cards if you have 5 or more new accounts (from any credit issuer) on your credit report in the past 24 months.

If you apply for one of the Chase Freedom cards and get rejected, refer to this poston what to do next.

The Chase Freedom cards earn Ultimate Rewards (UR), which can be transferred to a higher tier Chase card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve for optimal redemption.

Chase Freedom

Sign up bonus: $150 after $500 in spend within 3 months

5% cash back on rotating categories each quarter, up to $1,500 in combined purchases. Must activate the quarter.

Discover is removing many long-term insurance products for their cards

The only one sticking around is price protection

I would NOT recommend using Discover for long-term purchases where you want extended warranty or return protection

Discover It Miles

1.5% back on all purchases

Cashback match in Year 1 = 3%

Cashback match also works for Discover Deals

You can view credit card offers by going to the "Credit Card Offers" tab. Find offers for the respective cards in "Cash Back Credit Cards" and "Balance Transfer Credit Cards." You don't have to use our links, but we're grateful when you do. Thank you for supporting AskSebby!

All Citi cards come with great benefits like Price Protection and Return Guarantee. Citi Private Pass has been surprisingly useful since Citi has presales/exclusive tickets. "For access to the best in live music, sports, dining, family entertainment and more, look no further than Citi® Private Pass®. There's no need to enroll and no fees to pay to gain access."

Apple and Goldman Sachs will partner to create a new iPhone-connected credit card set to launch later this year. According to the WSJ, the card will integrate with the iPhone to track spending, points, and help with budget management.

Booking a flight with the right credit card can make or break a trip, especially if unexpected delays happen. Missed connections or canceled flights can leave a hole in your wallet, and some airlines will only provide food vouchers and overnight accommodations if the delay with within their control.

There’s a misconception going around that the Amex Platinum card earns 5x on ALL hotel stays. To clarify, the Amex Platinum only earns 5x points when you book hotel nights through amextravel.com or the Fine Hotels and Resorts Collection (FHR).

Marriott recently announced the upcoming changes to their loyalty program, Bonvoy. There’s a lot of information to digest like rebranding cards, new cards, status, and key dates.

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, vendors or companies, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, vendors or companies, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

AskSebby Disclaimer: Content on AskSebby represents one individual’s experiences and viewpoints, and your experience may differ. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor a legal or tax professional. Articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances. Research and obtain professional advice regarding all credit decisions before attempting to duplicate any of the techniques described on this website.